Resilient wheel.



J. F. 6: H. E. SIPE.

RESILIBNT WHEEL.

APPLICATION YILED MAR. 19. 1913 1,132,492, Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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ATTORNE 8 ing peripheral flanges JOHN F. SITE AND HARRY E. SIPE, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

BESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed March 19, 1913. Serial No. 755,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. SIPE and HARRY E. SIPE, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in resilient wheels.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of resilient wheel and especially a spring wheel which will be simple, eflicient and economical in construction and operation, and which will serve not only as an eiiicient sub stitute for wheels cushioned with pneumatic tires for all uses, but which is in many respects better.

Further and more specific objects, features and advanta es will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanyin sheet of drawings which forms a part 0 this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of part of a wheel embodying our improvements in the preferred form thereof; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same showing one set of connecting devices; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the levers;

-Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the universal connections; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of one of the supporting connecting members.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a hub section with a hub 2 having surround- 3 and an integral peripheral flange 4. Between the flanges 3 are placed arms 6, and the flanges 3 are bolted together and to the flange 4 by bolts 5. Bolts 7 also pass through the flanges 3 and arms 6 to more securely hold the parts together. The arms 6 have attached thereto balls 8 which operate in sockets 9 in supporting connecting link members 10. The link members 10 are composed of four U shaped members 11, 12, 13 and 14 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

The members 11 and 13 are nested within the members 12 and 14, respectively, and the arms are of varying lengths so that the joints 1 5, 16:, 17 and 18 are offset, as clearly shown 1n Fig. 5, whereby a lar e surface is presented between joints 15 an 16 and between l'l: and 18, at which the member 12 may be welded to the member 13. The members 12 and 11 and 14 and 13 are also welded to ether near their respective ends so that a cop is formed with a socket or universal joint in each end thereof. Opposite the socket 9 the link member 10 is provided with a socket 19 adapted to engage a ball 20 carried upon the lower end of the lever 21. The lever 21 at its u per end, is provided with two ball projections 22 (see Fig. 3) which engage sockets 21 carried rigidly upon a circumferential band 25 of the tread section '26. The band 25 is also provided with a circumferential flan e 27 and interposed between the flange 2 and each of the levers 21, midway between the balls 20 and 22 are four spiral springs 28. Carried upon the band 25 is a peripheral channel 20 adapted to contain a solid rubber tread 30, held therein by means of wires 31.

Upon any force being exerted which tends to move the hub section relatively to the tread section the links 10 change their osition with respect to the axis of the w eel, thereby throwing the levers 21 so as to comress the sprin s 28, thereby causing a. cushioning of the ub section with respect to the tread section.

In vehicles adapted to carry very heavy loads,-.it is desira le that the width of 'the tread section be increased for the purpose of increasing the strength and decreasing the wear and tear of the pkarts and their liability to breakage. For t is purpose the band 25 is double the width necessary to carry the tread 30, and is provided with an additional peripheral channel29 carrying an additional hard rubber tread 30'. The band 25 also carries an additional inner flange 27' and sockets 24. Also, additional levers 21' are provided, with balls engaging the sockets 24' at their upper ends, and a ball 20' at their lower ends engaging sockets in links 10', the levers 21 being adapted to compress springs 28'. 3=-3' represent additional circular members carrying between them arms 6', the parts 33' and 6 being separated from the members tread section with sets of connecting devices resiliently connecting the double tread section with the hub section, one set for each tread, the devices of each set being alternately disposed about the wheel and,

and two series of springs 28' section, or vice verse.

e perfect fitting,

As above explained, for connecting are held in place by the action each set comprising levers fulcrumed upon the double tread section by means of ball and socket joints, each adapted to compress a plurality of s rings and each being connected to the hu section by means of links or supporting connecting members, by means of universal ball and socket gomts. It will also be seen that there are shown four series of levers and four series of cushioning devices, 2'. e., two series of springs 28 and levers 21, one series on each side of flange 27, and two series of springs 28, and levers 21, one series on each side of the flange 27, but that each series occupies a different plane parallel to the plane of the wheel, whereby the wheel is capable of supporting eliiciently an especially heavy load.

t e two wheel sections together, two series of connecting devices, 10, etc., and 10, etc., are provided, and two series of springs 28 on one side of the central plane of the wheel on the other side thereof.

It will be understood that alternate sets of connecting devices (see Fig. 1), embracing arms 6, connections 10, levers 21 and springs 28, and arms 6', connect1ons 10 levers 21' and springs 28', are oppositely disposed so that there is no tendency of the hub section to move laterally to the tread When it is desired to remove any of the movable parts, it is only necessary to provide a clamp and compress the springs, when connections 10 Wlll drop OE and are easily removed, and then on removing the clamp the levers 21 will drop out together with the springs 28. It will further be noticed that the levers 21 are held on the wheel and in pivotal connection with the tread section by the compression of the springs 28 alone, and also that the links 10 of the springs 28 alone, so that no screws or bolts or other fastening devices are required to hold in place any of the moving parts. By fulcruming the levers 21 th the tread sect1on by means of levers are restrained from any movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the wheel, the joints are made absolutely noiselessmear will not loosen the joints but will make them i and the joints Wlll not two ball and socket ]oints,the

bind due to expansion by heat in protracted hard service. 7

By attaching the connections which support the balls 8 and 20 to the balls on the sldes opposite the sockets in which they bear, it w ll be seen that the sockets are in no way mutilated, whereby the bearing area is whole and not decrease Furthermore, by placmg the balls upon the hub and tread sections and the sockets in the supporting connecting members 10, the line of pull in the connectmg members always passes through the center of the sockets and the load will be distrlbuted over the entire surface of the .sockate at all times.

By fulcruming the levers upon the-tread section instead of on the hub section they are nearer the periphe of the wheel, consequently the are fart er apart than they would be i fulcrumed on the hub section and more room is given to each one, whereby they are more easily accessible and more easily put in place, and more of them may be used. Furthermore, the arrangement shown provides a simple and eflicient combination ada ted to wheels with double treads and w ich affords suiiicient stren h for carrying heavy loads where wheels with double treads are necessary.

In all forms of resilient wheels heretofore devised, the capacity in an automobile has, as far as we are aware, been limited to a few thousand pounds. In such wheels where springs were employed, this limited capacity is due, we believe, to the fact that the con-- struction permits of only a relatively small number of springs being employed. In the wheel shown and described herein the caacity is greatly increased by em loying evers, each of w ich operates on a plurality of springs, and by applying the levers and springs or other cushioning devices to the tread section so that they may be near the periphery of the wheel more of them may be used than in constructions heretofore employed. By increasing the width of the levers substantially continuous rows of sprin s set side by side and entirely around t e w eel on both sides ma be provided so that four such wheels woul have a capacity of 28,000 lbs. By providing the double tread arrangement with the corresponding doubling ofcushioning devices and connections the capacity may be increased to 56,000 lbs.

In using the phrase supporting connectin members we do not desire to limit ourse ves to a sin le unitar memberas obviously any sort of connecting devices whether consistin of a single or a plurality of parts, and whet er the parts are rigid with one another or not, may be used in place of the tion in certain of its broa er aspects. However, the links-10.1mm a simple and efficient links 10, without departin from our invenmeans depend upon the number of such sections.

adapted to be operated Although we have described our improvements in great detail and with respect to one particular form-thereof, we do not desire to be limited to such details except as clearly specified in the appended claims, since man other changes and modifications may we 1 be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus fully and clearly described our improvements, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A resilient wheel comprising a hub sec tion and a tread section, cushioning means carried byone of the sections for cushioning said sections with respect to one another, and supporting connecting members connect ing the sections together through the cushioning means by ball and socket joints, the connections supporting the balls being attached to the balls on the opposite sides of the balls from the sockets, the sockets being carried by said connecting members and the balls by the hub and tread sections.

2. A resilient wheel comprising a hub;

section and tread section, levers fulcrumed on the tread section, supporting connecting members extendin su tantially arallel with the axis of t 0 wheel, each a or con necting the hub section with one end of said levers, and cushioning devices adapted to be compressed by said levers due to a relative movement of said two sections. r

. 3. A resilient wheel comprisin a hub sectics: and tread section relative y movable with respect thereto, levers fulerumed on one of said sections, su porting connecting members extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel for connectin the other section with said levers by bal and socket joints to operate the levers upon a relative movement of the two sections, the connections supporting the balls being at tachcd to the alls on the opposite side of the balls from the sockets, and the sockets being carried by the connecting members and the balls by-,the levers and opposite wheel section, and springs adapted to be compressedby said le er 4: A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section relatively movable with respect to one another, levers pivoted on the tread section, cushioning devices by said levers and supportin connecting members extending substantia ly parallel with the axis of the wheel for connecting said levers with the other section, whereby a relative movement of the two sections causes the two to be cush ioned by the cushioning devices.

5. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and tread section, levers carried by one section, cushioning devices acted upon by said levers, and connecting members extending transversely of the wheel and connecting the lovers with the other section ,by ball and socket joints, so that a. relative movement of one section with respect to the other will compress the cushionin means, 7

the connections supporting the ba ls being attached to the balls on the opposite side of the balls from the sockets the sockets being carried by the connecting members and the balls by the hub and tread sections, whereby the line-of pull at all times passes substantially through the center of the sockets, and the cushionin devices being at a less distance from the ilcrum of the levers than the-connecting members, whereby a relatively large movement of the sections with respect to one another may take place as compared with the amount of compres' sion of the cushionin means a a 6. A resilient whee comprising a hub tion and tread section, levers fulcrumed on one section, cushioning devices acted upon by said levers and connecting members extending substantially paralle with the axis of the wheel for connecting said lovers with the other section, whereby a relative movement of the sections will operate the levers to act upon the cushion devices, said levers being: held on the wheel by the pressure of the cushioning means alone.

7. Aresilient wheel comprising a hub sec tion and tread section, cushioning means for cushioning" said section with respect to one another, and supporting connecting mem bers extending a proximately paral el with the axis of the wheel for connecting the sections together by ball and socket joints, the connections supporting the balls bein at tached to the balls on the opposite si e of the balls from the sockets, and the sockets being carried by the connecting members and the balls by the hub and tread sections. whereby the line of pull at all times passes mihstantially through the center of the sockets.

Q. A resilient wheel oomprisin tion and tread section-relativ y movable with respect thereto, levers fulcrumed on one of said sections, so porting connecting members extending an antially parallel with the axis of the wheel for oonnectin the other section with said levers by bafi and socket joints to -operate the levee upon a relative movommt oi "the mo mtlmag the a hub sec connections su porting the balls bein attached to the alls on the opposite s1 0 of the balls from the sockets, and the sockets being carried by the connecting members and the balls by the levers and opposite wheel section, and rings adapted to be compressed by said evers, the levers and springs being alternately disposed about the wheel.

9. A resilient wheel comprising a double tread section, a hub section cushioned with respect thereto, a plurality of sets of connecting devices, the devices of each set being alternately disposed about the wheel for. operatively connecting the hub section to the tread section, each set comprising supporting connecting members operatirely connecting the sections by ball and socket joints, the balls being carried by the sections and the sockets by the connecting members, and the connections supporting the balls being attached to the balls on the opposite side of the balls from the sockets.

10. A resilient wheel comprising a double tread section, a hub section relatively movable with respect thereto, a plurality of sets of connecting devices, the devices of each set being alternately disposed about the wheel for operatively connecting the hub section to the tread section, each set comprising levers fulcrurned on one section,

cushioning devices adapted to be operated by said levers, and supporting connecting members extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel, one for each lever, for connecting the levers with the other section, said supporting connecting members being connected to the levers and said other section by universal ball and socket joints, theballs being carried by the levers and said other section, and the sockets by the connecting members, and the connections supporting the balls being attached to the balls on the opposite side of the balls from the sockets.

11. A resilient wheel comprisinga hub section and a tread section relatively movablewith respect thereto, levers, each fulcrumed on one section by two ball and socket connections, cushioning devicesoperated by said levers, and supporting connecting members extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel for connecting said levers with the other section by universal joints.

12. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section relatively movable with respect thereto, levers,-each fulcrumed on one section by two ball and socket connections, a plurality of springs adapted to be compressed by each lever, and an porting connecting members extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel for connecting said levers with the other section by ball and socket universal joints, the sockets being carried by the connecting members and the connections supporting the balls being attached to the balls on the opposite side of the balls from the sockets.

13. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section relatively movable with respect to one another, a plurality of levers fulcrumed on the tread section and supportin connecting members extendin substantia 1y parallel to the axis of the whee for connecting said levers to the hub section through universal joints, and a, plurality of coil springs adapted to be simultaneously compressed by each lever upon the taking place of a re ative movement between said sections.

14. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section, cushioning means for cushioning said sections with respect to one another, and supporting connecting members connecting the sectlons together through ball and socket universal Joints, each of said connectin members being formed of two or more shaped members connected together to'form a loop with a universal joint at each end thereof.

15. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section, cushioning means for cushioning said sections with respect-to one another, and supporting connecting members connecting the sections to ther through ball and socket universal oints, each of. said connecting members bein formed of two or more members connected together to form a loop having a socket in each end thereof.

16. A resilient wheel comprising a hub section and a tread section cushioned with respect to one another, levers fulcrumed on one section, cushioning devices operated by said levers, and two series of supporting connecting members extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel, each for connecting the levers to the other section, the members of each series alternately opposing one another, and said two series occu ying different planes substantially paralle to the plane of the wheel. j

17. A resilient wheel comprising a'hub section and tread section relatively movable with respect to one another, four series of levers fulcrumed on one section and four series of cushionin devices adapted to be operated by said series of levers respectively,

each series of levers and cushioning devices occupying a different plane substantially parallel to the plane of the wheel, and two series of supporting connecting members connecting the levers with the other section through universal joints.

18. In a resilient wheel, the combination of a hub section and a tread section, radially arranged levers fulcrumed thereon, springs adapted to be compressed by a movement of the levers in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel, and connecting members extending substantially parallel to the axis of the Wheel for connecting each lever with the section on which it is not fulcrumed by means of ball and socket joints, the sockets being carried by the said connecting members to engage balls on the levers and wheel section, and the balls being supported on their sides opposite their sockets.

19. In a resilient wheel, the combination I of a hub section and a tread section, levers fulcrumed thereon springs adapted to be compressed by a movement of the levers in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the Wheel, and connecting members extending substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel for connecting each lever with the section on which it is not fulcrumed by means of ball 2 names to this specification in the presence of 25 two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. SIPE. HARRY E. SIPE Witnesses EDWIN SEGER, GORHAM CRosBY.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,132,492, granted March 16,

1915, upon the application of John F. Sipe and Harry E. Sipe, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Resilient Wheels, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 123, after the word member insert the words extending substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel, each for;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent ()fiice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of May, A. D., 1915.

[BEA L.] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

